I do not own Inuyasha or anything pertaining to it. If I did, I would have put a more in-depth relationship between Sesshomaru and Rin.

Something to Protect

His father had asked him that, that fateful night of the new moon, the night he would go to save the one he loved, to die for the one he protected. Of course, Sesshomaru had no answer, at that time he had no one to protect, no one to love because no one loved him. The great Inu No Taisho had met his untimely demise protecting what many others had called his weakness, the princess Izyoi, yet that night he became more powerful than ever, some would say even beyond what he once was. Something to protect, could it be, so simple yet so complicated that it would take even the greatest of them to comprehend let alone understand. But he understood it; his inner demon wouldn't let him forget. She was the key, the answer to all the questions, she always was.

He could smell her tears, see the heartbreak in her eyes, and feel the sadness that radiated off her in waves. He had just finished telling her she was to return to Kaede's village and that kohaku would be meeting her there to ensure she would be looked after. It was painful to tell her that he was sending her away, but even more painful to explain why. The reason for all this hurt and heartache was truly his fault, for it was only that morning that his mother had told him he was to wed, to marry another inu youkai. The rage his inner demon was sent into was only further ignited when he did nothing to deny her.

She didn't know but he thought she suspected that the reason was that they had grown closer these past few years. She was merely nine when he first left her with Kaede but had returned to her when she was fifteen with the ultimatum of traveling with him again or staying with the humans. She hadn't even hesitated when she'd agreed to return. They had ceased their travels and returned to his castle when she was seventeen so he could show his subjects he would take the role of ruler over the western lands. Now that she was nineteen, unwed and even unmated, he was ready.

Two halves of himself had been at war when she'd returned. The demon within wanted her and only her, reasoning that she was the only who desired him not for his power or wealth but for him. The other side challenged that she was human and his lineage would never be tainted again, besides, her life span was but a flicker compared to his. His demon always countered with that it didn't matter, he loved her, and the first problem could be fixed if he utilized his demonic blood when he claimed her, intertwining their life spans and giving her a fraction of his power. Recently, his demon was winning; at least until his mother had told him of what was to happen. That was nearly three days ago. Now his inner beast was quiet, like a child waiting in a dark corner, pouring with such rage that he even began to fear what it would do. It wasn't just angry that he was breaking Rin's heart but he was also sending her away, knowing that he couldn't see her saddened knowing it was his own damn fault.

The only reason for the marriage was strictly political, a rivaling phantom dog clan had grown in number and therefore strength, and without the Inu No Taisho, Sesshomaru's clan would fall. An alliance would secure a treaty between the two and strengthen both clans. Its how it had been done before and how they intended for it to continue. Tradition, he could feel the demon growl at the mere mention of the word.

Rin had already packed what she considered to be her belongings: a silver mirror given to her on her sixteenth birthday by him, a hair brush with a golden handle. A leather bound book filled halfway with blank pages, a quill, and an ink bottle, all from when they had discovered she had a knack for the arts. And finally a flower, that was usually in her hair but now held close to her heart, the colors were that of his and she had said that above all was her most prized possession. He couldn't look her in the eye as she left, which only aggravated the beast even more. He heard Jaken, the toad demon who has been following him faithfully for all these centuries, squawk something he never thought the little imp was even smart enough to consider.

"Perhaps it is for the best, my lord?"

The well hidden question was certainly thought out and considered by the small green midget. Could it be he knew of how his master felt? Until now, Rin had been the only one to read him like a book while others seemed to spend ages trying to peer into his mind. He did not utter a single word, and he would not, for the perhaps the rest of his life.

Rin had been escorted by three of Sesshomaru's generals, who were ordered, on penalty of death, to only return when she had the proper shelter and the human, Kohaku, was there to look after her. His generals knew of his dislike for this particular human, since the maiden Rin was so close to both him and her lord and lord Sesshomaru still fears him as a potential husband, but had given orders that he not be harmed. They and they alone, knew of the arrangements and accommodations the lord was making in preparation for Rin, as the new lady of the west. And it was with heavy hearts that they now brought her to this village, over the past few years she had befriended even them, the most feared of all lord Sesshomaru's generals, and now they understood why their lord was so different around her. And like any loyal soldiers they did not step out of line and voice their assumptions. They had sensed the change in their lord when the maiden Rin had returned, that certain spark in him that was only there when was she near, and now the drastic shift, they had never felt such a rapid growth in power, and his demon had never been more enraged. The lead general, Yōgo-sha, had been the Inu No Taisho's right hand man and that loyalty had passed over to his son, he had known Sesshomaru since he was a little pup and had been the first to note the changes in the lord of the western lands. Had seen Sesshomaru change from the heartless, arrogant, and selfish wonderer to the wise and just ruler, much like his late father.

Rin raised her head in time to see Kohaku waving at her, a smile plastered on his face. She managed a half-hearted smile back but it didn't escape his notice.

"Rin, are you alright, you seem troubled?" his question and clear lack of in-depthly reading people made general Yōgo-sha raise a silver brow at him. This was to be the human his lord had placed in charge the maiden, their lords' most cherished possession? For once he actually began to question the lords' directions.

"Yes Kohaku, I am fine." Her answer was barely above a whisper and her words were hollow. She gestured to the lead general, "This is general Yōgo-sha, lord Sesshomaru's sama's greatest and most able."

Kohaku looked the demon up and down, visibly moving his head, as the phantom dog demon did the same, but only moving his eyes.

"Thank you, but I can take it from here." His words were bitter and harsh. The general merely snuffed at him.

"Lord Sesshomaru has given explicit instruction not to leave until the lady Rin has reasonable living accommodations."

"The 'lady' Rin, last I checked she wasn't mated to any dog demon." Kohaku spit out, bringing an actual growl from dog demon general.

"Know that it is only the lords will that keeps you alive human. If it were the master's true choice, the lady would not be rotting in this flea ridden land but where she belongs. Home, with her lord and master."

"She is home. Now you can leave." Kohaku tried to match his furious gaze.

"Yes, do leave." A new voice joined in, one Yōgo-sha recognized. He turned to see seven of the rivaling clan's members standing before him, each wearing black kimonos with silver streaks down the arms and chest.

"What do want Toraburu?" Yōgo-sha asked, his presence here was not good.

"I heard a rumor that lord Sesshomaru's pet was to reside in this village, and since he is to wed in ten minutes, I thought I'd come by and see if I can't have a little fun before the festivities." Just then he snapped his fingers and the six behind him lunged forward, pinning down the three generals, Kohaku, and scaring off any others who were to come to their aid. Toraburu stalked towards Rin with lightning speed and had her back against the ground. She punched, scratched, and kicked him to off of her, but only seemed to excite him even more.

"I love it when my prey fights. Always offers a better challenge." He pulled her legs apart at the thighs, scratching through the soft flesh there and drawing blood. The winds carrying off her scent to her only hope.

Sesshomaru was at the alter with his soon-to-be-mate at his side. They were already to the 'I do's' and he felt sick to his stomach. He gazed down at his newly restored left hand, it only took ten years for it to grow back and he knew it was because of Rin. Being in her presence alone made him feel like he could do anything and she believed he could. How could he do this to her, how could he succumb to an adversary. Rin always said he was stronger than all of his enemies; her unwavering faith in him was truly astounding. Then he looked up and was not met with the man blabbering on and on about the procedures of the marriage, but instead the spirit of his father. The words from that night echoed in the air, their meaning striking him like a thousand swords through his cold heart.

Do you have something to protect?

Yes! He did now. Tradition be damned. Rin was to be his one and only lady of the western lands. She and she alone would bear his children, if they were hanyouo didn't matter any more. Only she was the one to truly love him.

But then it hit him, that scent that invaded his mind like a flood of horror. Blood, no, Rin's blood! It wasn't time for her cycle and his generals knew they would fear his wrath if they tried anything. But something else was accompanied with it, the scent an inuyoukai. The rage his inner demon was sent into swelled from within him, causing his eyes to turn from their natural gold to dark red and turquoise slits for pupils. But something happened, instead of the light purple cloud that surrounded him in his transformation, a light red steam came in its place. The magenta strips on his body left him only to be replaced with red slashes across his arms, legs, chest, cheeks, and forehead. His blue crescent moon stayed on his forehead, the only indicator that it was still him. He transformed into his youkai form, but it also having been changed. In place of its two fluffy ears stood sharpened dog ears, his mane extending from his forehead down to the middle of his back, fluffed up sections of fur at his forearms and hind legs, and the red slashes stayed on arms, legs, chest, face, but only narrower and glowing. His paw crashed into the ground as he turned and faced the doorway. Those present only gapped at him, how was it possible? They only heard him growl out in a deep broken voice before he launched through the doors and tore down the fields.

"Rin."

Rin was crying and screaming for Toraburu to get off of her as she clawed at him with her human nails. He only chuckled at her attempts while he untied his obi and pushed down his hakama pants. Rin could only muster enough scream out one final word.

"Sesshomaru!"

Her prayers seemed to be answered as Toraburu was ripped off of her before he was able to penetrate her. Rin opened her eyes only to see a strange humongous dog demon fight against Toraburu, who had also taken youkai form. This new youkai seemed oddly familiar and it was when she had a good look at his face that she realized that it was her lord Sesshomaru sama, but what had happened to him?

Sesshomaru and Toraburu leapt at each, claws drawn and teeth bared.